Wal-Mart Superstore Threatens Wilderness Battlefield
A 1865 photo of the Confederate entrenchments along the eastern edge of Saunders Field. Join us in protecting this irreplaceable piece of our Civil War history by signing our petition to Wal-Mart's executives.
Credit: National Park Service
You can buy a lot of things at Wal-Mart, but history isn't one of them.
Now is the time to speak out against big-box development plans that are threatening Virginia's Wilderness Battlefield, which is designated as a Priority 1, Class A battlefield by Congress’ blue-ribbon Civil War Sites Advisory Commission.
Take Action & Spread the Word
Your help is needed today to make sure that more Americans voice their support for this national treasure. Take action by signing our online petition urging Wal-Mart executives to find an alternate location for their proposed Supercenter that would not threaten our nation's heritage.
If you've already done so, consider forwarding the online petition to your friends and family. To date, more than 5,000 members and friends of the National Trust for Historic Preservation have taken action to save this historic Civil War battlefield. The more signatures we get, the louder our voice will be.
Updates from the PreservationNation Blog
Bad News for Civil War Heritage: Local Planning Commission Approves “Wilderness Wal-Mart”
Written by Rob Nieweg
Yesterday, the Orange County (VA) Planning Commission voted 5 – 4 to recommend approval of Wal-Mart’s flawed plan to construct 240,000 square feet of big-box development within the boundaries of the Wilderness Battlefield and across the road from the Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park. The final decision to approve or [...]
“Wilderness Wal-Mart” Update: It’s an Uphill Battle in Orange County, Virginia
Written by Robert Nieweg
Last night more than 200 people attended a public hearing of the Orange County Planning Commission regarding Wal-Mart’s proposal to construct 240,000 square feet of large-scale commercial development within the boundaries of the historic Wilderness Battlefield and immediately adjacent to the Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park. The May 21, 2009, [...]
“Wilderness Wal-Mart” Update: 145th Anniversary of the 1864 Battle
Written by Robert Nieweg
Wal-Mart continues to pursue its flawed plan to build a “Superstore” within the boundaries of the 1864 Wilderness Battlefield and just across the roadway from the Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park.
Wal-Mart’s 140,000-square foot big-box would permanently harm the battlefield, frustrate private-public initiatives to preserve the battlefield and restore 1864’s open viewscapes, [...]
Wilderness National Battlefield: Take a Minute to Make a Difference
Washington, D.C. is a fast-talking town.
If you’ve got a point to prove, sometimes all you get is a minute. Literally.
A tradition in the U.S. House of Representatives, one-minutes are an opportunity for members to address their colleagues on any topic they wish at the start of the legislative day. The Speaker of the House decides [...]
Wilderness Wal-Mart Update: “Battlefields can’t be moved. Big boxes can.”
What’s at Risk?
Wilderness Battlefield is one of the nation’s most important Civil War battlefields. It is designated as a Priority 1, Class A battlefield by Congress’ blue-ribbon Civil War Sites Advisory Commission.
However, construction of Wal-Mart’s massive Superstore would irrevocably harm the battlefield and degrade the visitor’s experience of the National Park. It [...]
Background Information
Plans for a Wal-Mart Supercenter within sight of one of the most significant Civil War battle sites in our nation have been submitted for approval in Orange County, Virginia. This 145,000-square-foot store is proposed just one-quarter mile from the main entrance to a national park that honors the sacrifice of the Civil War combatants who fought and died at Wilderness Battlefield in May 1864.
As a part of a growing coalition, the National Trust strongly opposes intensive commercial development at this historic site – located at the intersection of Route 20 and Route 3 – because it would degrade the rural setting of the battlefield, promote commercial sprawl and drastically increase traffic through the heart of the park. In fact, big-box traffic congestion here would dramatically increase pressure to widen Route 20 from two to four lanes – a fatal mistake strongly opposed by preservationists. Additionally, construction of the Wal-Mart Supercenter would likely lead to additional retail development within this corridor, including three additional big-box stores that are already in the works.
Important Information
- On June 25, 2009 the Orange County Planning Commission voted 5 – 4 to recommend approval of Wal-Mart’s flawed plan to construct 240,000 square feet of big-box development within the boundaries of the Wilderness Battlefield and across the road from the Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park. The final decision to approve or reject Wal-Mart will be made by the Orange County Board of Supervisors later this summer.
- Over 5,000 preservationists have already signed our online petition urging Wal-Mart to find an alternate location for its planned Supercenter.
- The National Trust is communicating directly with Wal-Mart corporate executives to ask for the relocation of the planned Supercenter, as well as with adjacent landowners who are preparing to intensively develop their property as a result.
- The National Trust and the National Park Service testified before the Vermont Legislature as they considered and ultimately passed a resolution asking Virginia officials to protect the historic battlefield because of its national significance.
- Along with the Wilderness Battlefield Coalition, the National Trust has offered to pay for a land-use planning study that would balance preservation of this irreplaceable historic site with sustainable economic development.
Wilderness Wal-Mart in the News
Leave a Comment
Submitted by e_pidgeon at: May 11, 2009
I find it interesting that a corporation that likes to hold itself out as being quintessentially American is so absolutely devoid of any patriotic respect for this "hallowed ground".
Submitted by Laura Richardson at: May 4, 2009
Please do not encroach upon an important historic site. Those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat it.
Submitted by judy at: May 1, 2009
This would be a tragedy to have this unneeded superstore in this unique area.